Michael Jackson

Well, Michael Jackson has made the news again, and this time it wasn't for dangling any of his strangely named and attired children from a hotel balcony. What do you guys think of the new charges being brought against Michael concerning child molestation? Is he a danger to children or is this a sham as Michael claims? (AOL had a great poll, so I'll post one similar to it)

I chose "Uncertain", I'd really like to see all of the facts involving this case before I made a decision. Having said that, I have always believed that some concerns seem warranted. Certainly, he is an eccentric public figure that the press loves to talk about, but the whole situation as Michael presents it seems far too simple and raises several red flags. I believe there was a big discussion earlier this year when that now infamous television interview was aired. This definitely calls for another discussion. What do you guys think?

Michael Jackson

I think the less said about MJ and this matter the better. These people thrive on plublicity - good or bad. Even, murderers get a thrill out of getting their picture in the paper. I am sure the media will be having a "field day" with this. That is enough attention.

Michael Jackson

I don't think Michael is relishing in this kind of publicity. He really creeps me out. The big interview they had a while back was so freaky. When Michael was sitting there with that teenage boy leaning on him and they were holding hands (if I remember correctly), it was just too weird. I wouldn't let my children near him either.

ITA. Even if he is innocent of molestation (which he very well might be), I still find it odd that parents let their kids near him. I mean, it's one thing if you are sitting on the jury, but as a parent wouldn't you want to be extra careful?

My personal opinion is that he has deep psychological problems mostly cause by his own traumatic childhood. I honestly think Michael has convinced himself that he is a Peter Pan--he's really a young boy and what he does is no different than any sexual experimentation that can occur in pre-adolescence and adolescence between young people. I truly believe he lives in a fantasy world where he thinks he's just another kid and his actions are not wrong. He needs some very serious help. If he has done this, he should be prosecuted and punished; however, he should also get serious psychiatric therapy. Jail for Michael would be a disaster. I doubt he'd last two days before someone went after him and seriously assaulted or even killed him. I also suspect he would be a suicide before he would allow anyone to incarcerate him. I hope this doesn't offend anyone, I'm looking at it from a psychological viewpoint.

I also think the boy's parents should be prosecuted for child endangerment if Michael is proven guilty. What the hell were they thinking staying at Michael's house and exposing their son to him, especially after he told them what was going on???!!!!

Unfortunately for the children, that's probably true. It seems like the weirdness doesn't matter to the parents that let their children go there. He's a celebrity and they might get something out of it eventually.

There's something not quite right about MJ's thought processes. Is this his real persona or is he really someone else. His former wife Presley claims that he cussed and liked sex during their marriage. Is that the real MJ?

Based on the interview, he seems to feel that he's done nothing wrong. The question is 'does he understand that what he's done isn't right' From his perspective (as sick as it may be), he's done nothing wrong.

Honestly - I voted uncertain since no evidence has been revealed - that's just to be fair and go along with the 'innocent til proven guilty'. I do think that the prosecutor's office must have a good case if they got the judge to issue a warrant; no one would want to have mud on their face in such a high profile case.

I'm not sure how I feel about the law regarding criminal cases since I don't understand all the facets. I realize that it disallows the filing of a civil suit while criminal charges are pending. That's a good idea that will protect both parties in a sense - no one will be able to besmirch an innocent by pressing criminal charges and sue for money at the same time - that's definite conflict of interest. On the other hand, if someone's willing to press charges and knows that they can't get payed off without following through, it makes the actual pursuit of criminal charges all the more serious. After the criminal case, can the child sue MJ? Or is he prohibited from every pressing a civil suit? I'm sure someone will be able to answer the question. Thanks ahead of time.

My other thought is for MJ's 3 kids. I already felt bad for them living in Bizarro world - although they are too young to understand that they live in a fantasy world. What will happen to them? Will there be all sorts of weird custody issues? Only time will tell.

I voted "It's about time, he is a viable threat to children", but now I'd choose the second one.

Would I trust him with my own child? Hell no. And if it turns out that he did in fact molested any child I think the parents who let their kids to sleep with Michael in the same room should be prosecuted as well.

When I watched the documentary about him when he told stories about sleeping with other people's kids in the same bed, and he was so cuddly with that boy (the one who's accusing him now?) sitting next to him, I was very surprised that it's being allowed. And in the States of all countries, where the laws for things like that are very strict (so I thought). Well, money and fame do really make a difference, I guess. Many celebrities, including some rather unstable ones, are allowed to adopt, or not have their own kids taken away even if they should. It's amazing. I've read quite a few stories where "normal" people had their kids taken away by overzealous Social Services for almost nothing, and Michael Jackson (who may not be a molester, but he's certainly unfit and not stable enough to raise children), could have bought not one, but three. Everyone can see what a bizzaro world they live in, plus after that incident where he dangled one of the kids from a balcony -- Social Services were still not interested enough to do something about it. Most interesting.

I do think that MJ has the right to live however he wants to live -- behave like a 5-year-old and look like an aging white woman or a Martian, etc., but he shouldn't be allowed to be any kid's full-time "Mommy and Daddy" in one person. Every kid deserves to have a normal childhood. This isn't.

Btw, I saw Corey Feldman (who was friends with Michael for many years) on Larry King today. I was very impressed with how articulate, fair, sincere and intelligent he sounded (I remember him from some very bad films about some pretty uncomplicated characters ).